MECHANICAL engineering group, EnerMech, has invested £20 million ($31.5M) in a new Process, Pipeline and Umbilical Services division and appointed one of the industries leading pipeline experts to head up the unit.

Les Graves joins the EnerMech board as director and brings with him more than 30 years experience in pipeline construction, precommissioning activities and well and process services. Mr Graves has previously held senior posts with BJ Services, Norson Services, Copipe/PSL and McKenna &Sullivan/Nowsco.

He will work in tandem with EnerMech business development director John Wingfield and the EnerMech management team which developed an impressive track record in supplying PPU services with their former company, PSL Energy Services, which was sold in 2007.

EnerMech managing director, Doug Duguid, said: “Until now, a restrictive covenant prevented us from entering this sector but now it is full steam ahead. The £20 million investment signals our intent that we will be a major player in providing process, pipeline and umbilical support in all the geographic regions in which we currently operate.

“Our clients gave us a consistent message that the market had too many companies providing a mediocre service, not based on sound technical principles, and secondly, service quality was not in line with what they considered value for money. We will plug that gap in the market for a specialist Pipelines, Process and Umbilical company which can provide excellent service quality at a reasonable cost.

“We have unrivalled technical experience and sector knowledge and this has been strengthened with the appointment of Les Graves who is one of the industry’s leading pipeline pre-commissioning specialists, and a raft of other top level staff appointments.”

Les Graves said: “I am relishing the opportunity to offer solutions for our clients’ pipeline and umbilical pre-commissioning requirements across the world by providing excellent people and cutting edge value adding technologies. The EnerMech team is first class, the commitment is second to none and the can-do culture within the company is a breath of fresh air.”

The scale of investment for an organically grown business is unprecedented in this service sector and includes an initial £2.7 million spent on onsite machining and hydraulic bolting and tensioning equipment. Investment in other equipment to establish what will be the most modern fleet in the world, includes nitrogen convertors (ATEX, DNV, Zoned), nitrogen liquid storage tanks, fluid pumping equipment, subsea flooding and testing packages, air compressors and nitrogen membrane units.

EnerMech will focus on two distinct markets – platform and installation shutdowns on the process side and precommissioning services on pipelines/umbilicals.

The company specialises in the supply, maintenance and engineering of cranes, lifting, valves and hydraulic equipment, equipment rental and the provision of training and specialist personnel to the energy industry.

With the acquisition of Specialist Maintenance Services Ltd and A1 Safety Training Consultants Ltd, EnerMech is now a leading international provider of offshore crane and lifting operations, crane personnel and safety training. EnerMech also has a significant presence in Norway following the acquisition of Bjørge ASA’s crane division in October 2008.

In April 2009 EnerMech extended its presence in the Middle East with the acquisition of UAE free zone companies Pavitt Energy Limited and Scotia Oilfield Trading FZE which has since been integrated in to the EnerMech group. Investment totaling £5.1 million ($7.5M) has been made in equipment stock rental, improvements at our bases in Ras al-Khaimah and Doha, and plans have been drawn up to build a new £3 million facility in Jebil Ali, Dubai which will be ready in 2012.

In April 2010 EnerMech acquired Aberdeen based hydraulic engineering specialist Norson Power in an £11 million deal. Norson Power provides hydraulic pipework installation and designs and manufactures hydraulic equipment for the oil, gas and marine industries.

EnerMech recently agreed a £24 million funding package with Lloyds Banking Group and, together with private equity provided by Lime Rock Partners and shareholder finance, has in place £40 million to support organic growth and further acquisitions.

In August 2010 EnerMech invested £4 million to acquire its 16 acre headquarter site in Aberdeen. A further £840,000 is being spent on refurbishments and the construction of new workshops, while another £2 million has been invested in setting up a new Valve Care division which will target the valve supply, testing, inspection and maintenance sector. In December 2010 EnerMech acquired Aberdeen Valve Supplies Ltd and its subsidiaries LG Ball Valves Ltd and Valve Paint Shop Ltd.